The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-06-18

getting her head above water long enoug
to speak She addressed Wetzel in Ems
lish. This caused him to relax his death
like grip on her throat, and she informe
him that she was white girl and a car
tive. Wetzel decided to take her bacl
with him. Ascertaining that the oil,
squaw was quite dead they started TO
Mt. Pleasant, but had hardly reached it
base when series of frightful whoop
and yels broke the summer silence
This indicated that the body O.
the squaw had been found and that the
track of the white mans foot had beer
discovered. Wetzel and the girl climbed
the mount with all possible speed, ant
soon joined haywood. A council was
held. There were only two or three points
of ascent to the preciptous hill, and it was
decided to guard them, and trust to Prov
| idencc for the rest
The night was advancing and the girl
| told the scouts that the Indians would
| probably make no attack while it was
| dark The means OF defense at hand were
| two rifles and enough ammunition to last
| several days. The greatest source of anx-
| iety arose from the fact of the smallness
| of the supply of food and water.
| The Indians surrounded the hill Skat
| night and kept up a horrid din for seveDl
hours, but did not make direct attack.
The three white people ON the lonely
mountain got no sleep, and they saw the
great sun of August rise with apprehen-
sion, for they knew that it would soon be
followed by the Indians.
Their supply of water and provisions
were well nigh exhausted, but they re-
solved to die of starvation rather than sur
render to the Indians. To add more to the
alarm of the scouts, they discovered
shortly after daylight that the girl had
disappeared, and the fear that she had
gone back to the Indians to report their
helplessness seized them.
AS the morning wore on they were sur
prised that the Indians made no attack.
Not sound could be heard But a sharp
watch was Kept lest some secret approach
should be made. Still the silence was un.
broken.
Had the savagcs craftily concluded to
leave the work of destroying their foes to
grim famine.
On the eastean side of the mount was a
steep, rugged place of ascent over points
OF rocks, down which the eye could see for
hundred feet through the foliage, while
the sentinel could himself be thoroughly
concealed
The morning had nearly passed when
Wetzcl, from his hiding place above the
stony place of ascent, saw IA big Wyandot
creeping carefully along the base of the
cliff below him. AT last he climbed to n
little ledge above his head, and stopped
Tor moment to gain his breath before at
tempting to go higher. That moment was
his last. A rifle shot was heard from be-
low, and the soul Of the Indian was re-
leased and free to go higher or lower as
the case may be. The Indian had no sooner
fallen than another took his place. Again
the mysterious rifle spoke out, and another
indian was sent to the happy hunting
ground. A third Indian popped up on the
fatal ledge, and third time that rifle
cracked and a third corpse fell before it.
Tho death of the third Indian caused wild
commotion among the three or four hum
dred warriors surrounding the mountain
Ihey set up an awful shout, but none of
them offered to take the places of the
fallen braves, and the day wore ON and
night dropped its cool gray curtains over
the scene.
Wetzel and mis- companion held a consul. |
tation under cover of the darkness Thev
discussed their chances of escape. The
descent they knew to be dangerous. be-
cause the way was narrow and the base of |
the hill well surrounded by Indians. But |
hunger and thirst were sorely pressing |
lhem, and they had confidence that their
light footedness and strength would talre
them through the savage ranks.
While they were talking the matter over
here was slight rustic, as by a wind
tossed bough, suddenly gentle hand was
placed ON WetzePs shoulder, and can
teen OF water dropped into his lap, and a
few bits of dried venison followed it. and
female voice said in low tones. "Be at
ms place tomorrow night; wait for me. ~
lhey ut once addressed some questions to
'hc mysterious visitor but there came no
answer to their words. They searched
he bushes for some time, but found that
hey were alone.
What could it mean' They could not
understand the mysterious visitor. But
ne circumstance gave them courage. as
he food did strength.
That night they slept by turns, and
lothing occurred to alarm them. The next
lay passed much as the preceding one had
lone, except that, the silence was un-
'roken. The Indians made no attack. and
ot human being was to be seen in any
Erection by the two watchers on the
Mount.
SO the second day passed.
FOR the third time night enveloped the
9orld, and the two weary scouts returned
0 the place where their mysterious yisi-
or had bade them await her return. They
ad not been seated an hour when dark
hadow passed before them. A package
'as deposited at their feet, and the voice
tho stranger said: "Put on the clothes
ou will find there and follow me.n In
'ss than i've minutes the two scouts were
rrayed in the costumes Of Wyandot war
iors, and were following their guide
cross the mountain with cat-liks tread.
The three dark figures disappeared in a
ecret passage beneath the dense laurel
ushes with which the rocks wero over
rown. The descent in this tissure was
steep and narrow that they were almost
'rced to creep rather than walk. The
arkness was intense. Not q word was
ttered After the lapse o. ten 0. fifteen
nutes the three silent figures emerged I
the open space at the northern base of Q
10 mountain.
'fhe forest was soon reacned, and the
10 started for Tarhe Soun, which they
ached shortly before midnight. The In
ans there were sleeping soundly, and :
% fugitives passed In safety through the
mp, and before daylight were far down J.
o Hooking Valley and beyond the reach a